When it comes to children’s safety, India’s IT capital has a record that is far from satisfactory; 17 cases of rape and sexual abuse of children were reported in the city in the last seven months.
Another rising statistic, which is cause for alarm, is the number of crimes against women. In 2011, Bangalore moved up from position three to position two among cities that rank high for crimes against women: it city recorded 1,890 crimes against women in 2011, compared to 1,570 in 2010. In the same year, Bangalore ranked number four in rape cases at 3.8 per cent.
2012 saw several gruesome cases of rape and assault on women, and abuse of children. Some more high profile than the other, they shocked the city — be it the alleged abuse of a three-and-a-half-year-old by her father (a French embassy official) or the alleged rape of a young law student on the Jnanabharati campus.
In fact, just a day after the rape of a physiotherapy student in Delhi triggered wide outrage and protests, a minor girl was raped by a 27-year-old provision store owner.
Child Welfare Committee chairperson Meena K. Jain said that many such incidents are going unreported due to lack of adequate awareness and fear. Meanwhile, senior police officials deny the rise in crime. Deputy Commissioner of Police S.N. Sidramappa told The Hindu that the NCRB figures show crime rates soaring as “cases of immoral trafficking are also being counted”.
